SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PULMONARY MONITORING AND TREATMENT
Systems and methods are disclosed determining a pulmonary function by mounting one or more sensors intra-orally; capturing intra-oral data; and determining the pulmonary function based on an analysis of the intra-oral data.
1 . A method for determining a pulmonary function, comprising:
a. mounting one or more sensors intra-orally;
b. capturing intra-oral data; and
c. determining the pulmonary function based on an analysis of the intra-oral data.
2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising determining an intermittent breathing condition from the intra-oral sound or determining a snoring condition from the intra-oral sound.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a custom removable intra-oral appliance.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the appliance is secured to an intra-oral position using a screw, an adhesive, a suction cup, a fastener, or a Velcro mount.
5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
a. measuring a magnitude and a frequency of an intra-oral sound; and
b. determining one or more intervals between breaths from the intra-oral sound.
6 . The method of claim 1 , comprising measuring oxygen concentration or carbon dioxide saturation.
7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising measuring oxygen data through a lax stratum corneum or a dermal structure.
8 . The method of claim 1 , comprising performing a dual-color ratiometric oxygen saturation measurement.
9 . The method of claim 1 , comprising measuring breath oxygen or carbon dioxide content.
10 . The method of claim 1 , comprising measuring inhaled and exhaled air for oxygen and/or carbon dioxide content.
11 . The method of claim 1 , comprising providing a stimulus signal to a patient based on the pulmonary function.
12 . The method of claim 11 , comprising applying the stimulus signal to a jaw.
13 . The method of claim 11 , comprising generating a sensation comprising one or more of: sound, vibration and electrical stimulation.
14 . The method of claim 11 , comprising altering a depth of sleep through the stimulus signal.
15 . The method of claim 11 , comprising altering a body position through the stimulus signal.
16 . The method of claim 1 , comprising measuring cardiac signals.
17 . The method of claim 16 , comprising measuring EKG signals or ECG signals.
18 . The method of claim 16 , comprising generating an alarm based on the cardiac signals.
19 . The method of claim 1 , comprising releasing a drug from an appliance.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the intra-oral sensors are coupled to a custom appliance.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the sensors comprise one of: temperature sensors, flow velocity sensors, acoustic sensors, heart rate sensors, optical sensors, arterial tone sensors, oxygen sensors, EEG sensors, EKG sensors, pH sensors, or snoring sound sensors.
22 . The method of claim 1 , comprising detecting one of: a sleep apnea condition, a snoring condition, a pulmonary condition, and a bruxing condition.
23 . The method of claim 1 , comprising treating one of: a sleep apnea condition, a snoring condition, a pulmonary condition, and a bruxing condition.
24 . The method of claim 1 , comprising providing therapy to a patient.
25 . The method of claim 24 , comprising delivering a vibration on a tooth or a gum.
26 . The method of claim 24 , comprising waking a patient.
27 . The method of claim 24 , comprising delivering sound to wake a patient.
28 . The method of claim 24 , comprising delivering electrical energy to stimulate nerves.
29 . An apparatus for transmitting vibrations via at least one tooth to facilitate communications, comprising:
a housing having a shape which is conformable to at least a portion of the at least one tooth;
an actuatable transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with a surface of the at least one tooth; and
a pulmonary detector coupled to the transducer.
30 . The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the housing comprises an oral appliance having a shape which conforms to the at least one tooth.
31 . The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the housing comprises a custom removable intra-oral appliance.
32 . The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the housing is secured to a tooth or a mandible using one of: a screw, an adhesive, a fastener, a suction cup, a Velcro mount.